S for offering goods for sale and for dispensing such goods

ABSTRACT

A plurality of superimposed trays for containing goods are held together by clamp screw means. A base part is connected to the lowermost of said trays and a top part covers the uppermost of said trays. Spring-loaded plungers are adapted to engage said goods in respective trays and urge them in a predetermined direction. Each of said trays defines at least one opening which is arranged to permit of a withdrawal of said goods from said tray in a direction that is transverse to said predetermined direction.

United States Patent Hirsch [451 Mar.2l, 1972 [54] APPARATUS FOR OFFERING GOODS F OR SALE AND FOR DISPENSING SUCH GOODS I [72] Inventor: Hermann Hirsch, Klagenfurt, Austria [73] Assignee: Firma Hans Hirsch 8: Sohne, Klagenfurt,

Austria {22] Filed: Dec. 29, 1969 211 App1.No.: 888,471

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 6, 1969 Austria ..9407/69 [52] US. Cl ..312/71, 108/111, 108/60 [51] Int. Cl. ..A47f 1/00 [58] Field of Search ..312/42, 71; 108/60, 94,103,

[56] References Cited Primary Examiner-James C. Mitchell Attorney-Ernest G. Montague 5 7] ABSTRACT A plurality of superimposed trays for containing goods are held together by clamp screw means. A base part is connected to the lowermost of said trays and a top part covers the uppermost of said trays. Spring-loaded plungers are adapted to engage said goods in respective trays and urge them in a predetermined direction. Each of said trays defines at least one opening which is arranged to permit of a withdrawal of said goods from said tray in a direction that is transverse to said predetermined direction.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Patented March 21, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY 2 Sheets-Shoot 2 25 INIVENTOR ATTORNEY APPARATUS FOR OFFERING GOODS FOR SALE AND FOR DISPENSING SUCH GOODS This invention relates to an apparatus for offering stacked goods for sale and for dispensing such goods. A known apparatus for this purpose comprises superimposed compartments which have common front and side walls, particularly the front walls consisting of glass, and a product, particularly in a package, being forced by resilient plungers against the forward wall. Peripheral gaps are provided on the side edges of the apparatus and enable a lateral withdrawal and insertion of the goods. The apparatus consists generally of a truncated pyramid having inclined forward walls and may be rotatably mounted on a foot.

It is an object of the invention so to improve such known apparatus that it can be made in a simple manner and the capaci ty of the apparatus can easily be reduced or increased.

An essential feature of the apparatus according to the invention for offering stacked goods for sale and for dispensing stacked goods resides in that a plurality of trays are mounted one over the other, the goods, which may be enclosed in a package, are advanced in known manner in said trays by resilient plungers, and are adapted to be withdrawn transversely to the direction of their advance, the trays are held together by one clamp screw or a plurality of clamp screws or the like and are connected to a preferably rotatable base part and closed at the top by a top part.

Within the scope of the invention, each tray is divided by partitions into preferably four compartments, each compartment has on one outer side a viewing opening and on the other outer side an edge strip, which protrudes upwardly and downwardly from the bottom of the tray and serves as an abutment for the goods which are advanced by the springs, or the packages ofsaid goods.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a top plate is provided for closing the uppermost tray and has downwardly protruding edge strips in register with the edge strips of the trays.

In accordance with the invention, the clamp screw or clamp screws protrude beyond the uppermost tray or the top plate, a preferably cross-shaped connector is fitted onto the end portion or end portions of the screw or screws and located by spring bushings, and the hoodlike top part is secured to the connector.

To ensure that each tray can be used individually, e.g., in transit, it is within the scope of the invention to provide intermediate plates, which are detachably connected to the trays. These intermediate plates are provided with non-symmetric slanting corner portions so that the contents of the trays are visible from above in a simple manner.

Finally, the invention teaches to provide a turntable on which the base part is supported by means of annular ball bearings and which constitutes a foot or standard or the like.

Details of the invention will now be explained more fully with reference to the drawing, which shows diagrammatically and by way of example two embodiments of the apparatus according to the invention.

FIG. I is a side elevation showing the apparatus which is provided with a standard.

FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view showing the disassembled parts of the apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a detail, and

FIG. 4 is a view partly in vertical section and partly in elevation and showing a second embodiment.

In the embodiments shown by way of example, the apparatus for offering stacked goods for sale and for dispensing such goods comprises a base part 1, a top part 2, and a plurality of trays 3,3, which are mounted one over the other. Each of the trays 3 consists of a bottom 4 and partitions 5, which divide the tray 3 into four compartments 6. Each compartment 6 contains a stack of goods, which are enclosed in individual packages 7. The stack of goods is advanced by a plunger 8 and a spring 9. The foremost individual package 7 is preferably held by upwardly and downwardly protruding strips 10 in engagement with edge strips 11, which protrude upwardly and downwardly from the bottom 4 of the tray. During this operation, the strips 10 slide on the edge strips 11 of one tray 3 and of the next following tray. To enable a withdrawal of the individual packages 7, the other side wall of each tray 3 is provided at the corner with a withdrawal opening 12. This side wall has also a viewing opening 13, through which the contents of each compartment 6 can be checked from the outside. The uppermost tray 3 is closed by a top plate 14, which is provided with downwardly protruding edge strips 15 in register with the edge strips 11.

The several trays 3 and the top plate 14 are held together by clamp screws 16. There may be four clamp screws, as shown in FIG. 2, or a central clamp screw, as shown in FIG. 4. A nut is inserted into the lowermost tray 3, and the top plate 14 is secured, e.g., with wing nuts so that the several trays are clamped together. The clamp screws 16 have end portions 17, which protrude over the top plate 14 and on which a connector can be fitted, which is preferably cross-shaped and made of wood. Sleeves 18 are interposed between the connector 19 and the top plate. The connector 19 is held in position by spring bushings 20 and serves to secure the top part 2.

The lowermost tray 3 has only an upwardly protruding edge strip 11 and is connected to the base part I by means ofscrews 21, which are screwed into a tapped hole formed in a metal angle 22 inserted into the base part. To improve the fit, the

- lowermost tray 3 may be provided with a marginal aperture 23. The base part 1 is supported on a turntable 25 with annular ball bearings 24 interposed. A screw 26 defines an axis of rotation and connects the base part 1 to the turntable 25. The turntable 25 may form a foot or be connected to a standard 27.

To enable the use of the trays 3 individually, intermediate plates 28 are provided, which have non-symmetric slanting corner portions 29 so that the contents of a tray 3 can be checked from above when an intermediate plate 28 has been connected to the tray.

The individual packages 7 may contain, e.g., bracelets or straps for watches and may have a transparent cover so that the bracelet or strap can be inspected from the outside without need to remove the individual package from the apparatus and to open the package. Identical bracelets or straps may be contained in the several compartments 6 of the trays. The compartments differ in height to receive narrow bracelets or straps for watches for ladies and wider bracelets or straps for watches for men. Compartments differing in height may be provided in one and the same tray.

The details which have been shown and described serve only to illustrate the nature of the invention, but do not restrict the same.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for offering goods for sale and for dispensing such goods, comprising,

a plurality of superimposed trays for containing goods,

clamp screw means holding said trays together,

a base part connected to the lowermost of said trays,

a top part covering the uppermost of said trays, and

spring-loaded plungers adapted to engage said goods in respective trays and to urge them in a predetermined direction, each of said trays defining at least one opening, arranged to permit of a withdrawal of said goods from said tray in a direction transverse to said predetermined direction,

each of said trays comprising partitions dividing the interior of said tray into a plurality of compartments, each of said compartments having two outer sides,

each of said trays being formed with a plurality of viewing openings associated with said respective compartments and being disposed on one outer side thereof,

a plurality of upwardly protruding edge strips,

each of said edge strips being associated'with one of said partitions and disposed at the other outer side thereof and forming a stop for said goods urged by said plungers.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim I, in which said compartments in one of said trays differ in height from said compartments in another of said trays.

3. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, which includes a top plate placed on and covering the uppermost of said trays and having downwardly protruding edge strips in register with said upwardly protruding edge strips of said trays.

4. The apparatus, set forth in claim 1, which includes a plurality of intermediate plates disposed between said trays and detachably connected thereto.

5. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 4, in which each of said intermediate plates have non-symmetric slanting corner portions.

6. An apparatus for offering goods for sale and for dispensing such goods, comprising,

a plurality of superimposed trays for containing goods,

clamp screw means holding said trays together,

a base part connected to the lowermost of said trays,

a top part covering the uppermost of said trays, and

spring-loaded plungers adapted to engage said goods in respective trays and to urge them in a predetermined direction,

each of said trays defining at least one opening, arranged to permit of a withdrawal of said goods from said tray in a direction transverse to said predetermined direction,

each of said edge strips being associated with one of said partitions and disposed at the other outer side thereof and forming a stop for said goods urged by said plungers.

7. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 6, wherein each of said trays has intermediate walls to form four compartments. 

1. An apparatus for offering goods for sale and for disPensing such goods, comprising, a plurality of superimposed trays for containing goods, clamp screw means holding said trays together, a base part connected to the lowermost of said trays, a top part covering the uppermost of said trays, and spring-loaded plungers adapted to engage said goods in respective trays and to urge them in a predetermined direction, each of said trays defining at least one opening, arranged to permit of a withdrawal of said goods from said tray in a direction transverse to said predetermined direction, each of said trays comprising partitions dividing the interior of said tray into a plurality of compartments, each of said compartments having two outer sides, each of said trays being formed with a plurality of viewing openings associated with said respective compartments and being disposed on one outer side thereof, a plurality of upwardly protruding edge strips, each of said edge strips being associated with one of said partitions and disposed at the other outer side thereof and forming a stop for said goods urged by said plungers.
 2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which said compartments in one of said trays differ in height from said compartments in another of said trays.
 3. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, which includes a top plate placed on and covering the uppermost of said trays and having downwardly protruding edge strips in register with said upwardly protruding edge strips of said trays.
 4. The apparatus, set forth in claim 1, which includes a plurality of intermediate plates disposed between said trays and detachably connected thereto.
 5. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 4, in which each of said intermediate plates have non-symmetric slanting corner portions.
 6. An apparatus for offering goods for sale and for dispensing such goods, comprising, a plurality of superimposed trays for containing goods, clamp screw means holding said trays together, a base part connected to the lowermost of said trays, a top part covering the uppermost of said trays, and spring-loaded plungers adapted to engage said goods in respective trays and to urge them in a predetermined direction, each of said trays defining at least one opening, arranged to permit of a withdrawal of said goods from said tray in a direction transverse to said predetermined direction, each of said edge strips being associated with one of said partitions and disposed at the other outer side thereof and forming a stop for said goods urged by said plungers.
 7. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 6, wherein each of said trays has intermediate walls to form four compartments. 